If you’re like most of us, you probably have dozens—if not hundreds—of free apps on your smartphone or tablet. We all like to get something for nothing, and being able to browse an app store and sample the wide variety of free programs makes your gadget feel like a digital library that never closes. However, if you’re truly looking to increase the performance of your particular machine, here are 3 reasons to forgo the free versions of a few apps and actually buy the full products:

Eliminate The Increasingly Intrusive, Soul-Crushing Ads That Pop Up

As great as it is to get that bowling app for free, the fact that you have to constantly navigate around advertising for window insulation or oil changes is a bit of a drag. The one-touch purchasing economy of the apps world can be a tremendous drain on your wallet, so you’re right to always opt for the free version at first. But if you come across an app that you use more or less every day, it might be time to drop $4.99 and actually own the program, rather than permanently using the version that is a lightning rod for intrusive ads.

Higher Quality Visuals

You probably don’t care about getting the full HD experience from an app that you’ve grown bored with after 5 uses. But once you’ve found something that is a regular feature of your smartphone or tablet usage, you might appreciate the bump in visual quality that the full version affords. For just a few dollars, your app can appear sharper and run more smoothly than you previously thought possible.

Again, you definitely shouldn’t upgrade everything on your apps list to the shiniest, priciest version available. But occasionally selecting an app’s full package will increase your enjoyment of a program that you already find entertaining or useful.

A Chance To See What Your Gadget Can Truly Do

Smartphones and tablets are fairly overpowered for the average tasks of most users. The device in your pocket has more computing power than a state-of-the-art desktop computer from 15 years ago, yet it seldom gets used for anything more complex than video streaming and light Internet browsing. The pricier apps—excluding the ones that are simply a waste of money—can actually let you take advantage of the full features of your phone or tablet. Complex games, video editing apps, professional tools, and much more are available in the deeper, more expensive waters of the app store. If you want to renew your sense of wonder with your particular gadget, you may want to get a top shelf app and see it flex its muscles a little.

 

Author bio:

John is a smartphone and tablet user who has finally found a better balance between buying too many apps and using their free versions. He writes for Internet insurer Protect Your Bubble, who can help protect all of your personal gadgets—including the new Galaxy S4—from theft, damage, defects, and more.